The Don Knotts Celebration Weekend will kick off Saturday morning, July 23, 2016, with free events that are open to the public. The Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB), in conjunction with The City of Morgantown and Main Street Morgantown, will join Vandalia Bronze for the unveiling of the Don Knotts statue in front of the Metropolitan Theatre on High Street at 10 a.m. July 23. Karen Knotts, comedian and daughter of the late Don Knotts, will be present to help artist Jamie Lester unveil the statue. The guest list also includes friends of Don Knotts, local dignitaries and a Barney Fife impersonator.
Immediately after the ceremony, Karen Knotts will perform her funny, critically-acclaimed one woman show, “Tied Up in Knotts,” her story of growing up with legendary comedian dad, Don Knotts, at the Metropolitan Theatre at 11:30 a.m. Don Knotts memorabilia from the West Virginia Regional History Collection will also be on display inside the theatre lobby, and vintage police cruisers will be parked outside.
The Celebration continues from 12-3 p.m. with a reception and exhibit entitled Don Knotts: MEMORIES at the Morgantown History Museum, located at 175 Kirk Street in downtown Morgantown. The exhibit was researched and developed by museum director Pamela Ball. Restaurants in downtown, including Morgan’s High Street Diner, Playoffs Sports Bar and Sandwich U, will also serve Don Knotts-themed lunch specials throughout Saturday.
On Sunday, July 24, Karen Knotts will be at the Morgantown History Museum from 1-3 p.m. for a meet and greet. Karen Knotts will be available to answer questions, take pictures and sign autographs. The event is free, courtesy of the History Museum and the GMCVB.
Jesse “Don” Knotts was born in Morgantown, WV on July 21, 1924 and graduated from Morgantown High School. He served in the United States Army during WWII before attending West Virginia University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree.
Knotts played Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show (1960-1965) and starred in films including The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964), The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) and How to Frame a Fig (1971). He also held recurring roles on the TV shows Three’s Company and Matlock and made countless other television and movie appearances throughout his long career.
